HCM City Metro Line 1 starts commercial operations today
VOV.VN - Metro Line 1 linking Ben Thanh market and Suoi Tien bus station officially commenced its operations on December 22, marking a significant milestone in the development of urban transportation in Ho Chi Minh City.
Metro Line 1 has a total length of 19.7 km, including 2.6 km underground and 17.1 km elevated, with 14 stations. The journey from Ben Thanh Station to Suoi Tien Station takes 29 minutes.
The project was initially approved in 2007 and broke ground one year later, with a total investment of over VND17 trillion. However, by 2011, the project was revised to more than VND47 trillion, of which, over VND41.8 trillion came from loans provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
“This project marks a crucial milestone in realizing the city’s public transportation planning, as it meets local residents’ needs for quick and efficient travel while contributing to reducing traffic pressure and environmental impact,” said Bui Xuan Cuong, deputy head of the Ho Chi Minh City administration, at the launching ceremony on December 22
According to Cuong, the project is not only a modern urban transit system but also a symbol of the city’s aspiration for growth, integration, and sustainable development.
Meanwhile, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki noted that Vietnam has significant opportunities to expand cooperation with international businesses. He also reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to fostering mutually beneficial relationships with Ho Chi Minh City, even after this project becomes operational.
Based on the cooperation demonstrated in this project, Japan aims to engage in necessary collaborations for the extension of Ho Chi Minh City’s Metro Line 1 and Hanoi's Metro Line 2, said the diplomat.
In the first six months of operation, Metro Line 1 will run from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM every day, with trains running at regular intervals of 8-12 minutes.
After the initial phase, the metro’s operating hours will extend to 11:30 PM daily. During peak hours, trains will run every 5 minutes, while in normal hours, the frequency will be every 10 minutes, and every 15 minutes during off-peak hours.
Passengers can view the route, operating hours, and real-time data for Metro Line 1 and the 17 connecting bus routes on the Go!bus app. In the future, Go!bus will be upgraded to serve as a convenient payment channel for public transportation in the city.
